Hello medics,

I hope your revision is going to plan and that you are all keeping well.

“Practical procedures” is a station that tends to be a tick box exercise that needs structure. As with my “intimate examination blog” there are some principles to make sure that despite the slickness of your technique, you don’t forget.

WASH HANDS

Yes, I have said it once and will keep saying it - DO NOT FORGET this. Say you will wash your hands plus use the alcohol gel/wash hands. Make it obvious to the examiner, make their life easy.

CHECK PATIENTS ID

Confirm name and DOB by either patient (if live actor/patient) or check the hospital wrist band. This should then be compared to the notes you have in front of you.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF

State who you are and your status. It is simple and always goes down well.

EXPLAIN THE PROCEDURE

Explain what you have been asked to it i.e. IV cannula, venipuncture. Each procedure will have 1-2 lines that you should learn as your initial spiel.

Explain that it may hurt, and the procedure can be stopped at at anytime.

ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE NON TOUCH TECHNIQUE (ANTT)

For obvious reasons this will need to be followed

SAFE DISPOSAL OF SHARPS

There may be a sharps bin in the station, use this or say you would use a sharps bin

END THE CONSULATION:

1) Thank the patient.

2) Documentation. You may need to verbalise this or physically write it. It depends on the actual procedure but usually along the lines of:

Aseptic Non Touch Technique
No complications
Additional action ie “FBC, U+E, CRP sent off to lab”
Your information + contact details i.e. Bleep number

3) WASH YOUR HANDS!

I hope you found this blog refreshing and to the point. It less of the faff and more about the principles in your mind.

Happy revision :)